Just in case anyone is interested in my neck lump, here's an update.....

[PositiveAttitude]

I know a few of you lovely ladies were watching my thread about 5 weeks ago about my neck lump, so here's an update:

After the good MRI results I went back to the consultant, who had one feel and disagreed with them!!! The lump had grown rapidly and should not have done, so I had a biopsy taken. 2 weeks wait only to be told it had failed. A second one taken with an ultrasound for guidance and I had a call last week to say that it had come back "inconclusive"

So I asked to be referred to another consultant who I went to yesterday. He seemed a really nice guy and far more knowledge about this than the last one.

I have a rapidly growing tumour in my left parotid gland. The bit I can feel is just the edge of it and it looks huge on the scan pictures!! He was very honest and said that at the moment (well the scan was 17th September) the pictures show no "leakage" to connecting tissues, so it looks benign, but he wants to treat it as "suspiscious" until it is out and has been tested fully, especially due to the rapid growth. So I am waiting for a date for "urgent" surgery, which apparently should be within the next 6 weeks.

Its been a tough few weeks, but now I feel more relaxed knowing that something positive is being done and I have an ending in sight for this. I had wanted to avoid surgery, but it is the only way out now, so the sooner it is done the better and I can move on withb life. If it is malignant, then I will cope with that when/if I have to.

Thanks for all your support and positive vibes!!

Hi PA, just checking in to see if there's any update from you. I hope the op went well and that you're feeling ok?

How are you hun??

Hope everything went well and you will soon be back with an update.

Thanking of you xxx

are you ok? We are all waiting to hear how it went when you are strong enough to come and tell us about it.

WTD here with another name change, thinking of you and hope you are home and on the mend.

Take care of yourself.

Sorry, sorry, sorry!!! And thank you all for your lovely messages.

Well, I am home, I am alive and it is done!!

Surgery was trickier than the surgeon had anticipated because the tumour had grown a lot since the scan in September and had grown on top of the facial nerve, pushing it out of the way and making it difficult to separate without nerve damage. He did a fantastic job and i have no permanent facial nerve damage, so no lopsided smiles!! Surgeon joked that he had to cancel a family afternoon out because it all took so long - I did feel guilty. He also said he was really pleased it had not been left any longer, or his job would have been even harder.

The tumour was removed whole, which is good and I will get the final pathology results in 2 weeks.

Once back on the ward recovery did not go too smoothly when I was given a drug that I had an anaphylactic reaction to, which resulted in high drama, just at the most embarrassing of times - visiting time, and me being carted of to HDU. I honestly thought at one point that I was going to be no more!!
BUT I got through that and am home to tell the tale!

I am now feeling totally zonked out. I cant do anything without needing an hours sit down afterwards. Just climbing upstairs is a days work! I have had a shower this morning, in the hope that it would buck me up a bit, but I feel as if I have run a marathon.

I stupidly thought that I would be back to normal within a few days and then could enjoy a week off work catching up and having fun. The way I feel at the moment I am not convinced that I will be able to be upright long enough to work in 2 weeks time! I know I need to be more patient with myself, but its going to be hard!

For all you book clubbers - I read the whole of the 3rd Steig Larsson , - Oh, its brill.

Thank you all once again.

Oh wow, so glad to see you posting - and what a relief! I know recovery will be a little while, but do you feel better in general now it's gone - I know it was making you feel very poorly.

Brill that they got it out in one piece. So sorry to hear about the drug reaction, you poor thing, you've really been through it.

Thanks for letting us know how you are, we have all been worried - I'm sure I speak for everyone!

Take it very easy now, don't push yourself.

xx

SO relieved to hear you are ok (even with the high drama).

Sounds like the surgeon did a great job.

Take it easy (but pop in for a chat if you are bored in a couple of days!)

Do you need any reading matter? Got the latest book from you - thanks so much - I am shattered atm and it is a lovely easy read.

xxx (un-mn but there you go!)

Good luck to you Positive Attitude.

Get back onto Facebook, I've been watching for an update and here you are swanning around on Mumsnet . So, so glad it's all gone well for you - take two weeks off work, if you can't do fun things this week then you need next week too.

Do you know I've been trying to get into that 3rd dragon tattoo book and for some reason just can't manage it. Will try again on your recommendation.

Take care of yourself, we are thinking of you.

Chickflit, I struggled with the first part of the book. I wished I had read it sooner after number 2, but had a bit of a break. It is definitely worth it though!!

Thanks for the posts EnnisDelMar, JJ and Fimbo.

It's lovely to hear from you, PA. So glad that the op was successful altho' not without its dramas!

Hope you are able to take it easy for the next few weeks and build up your strength again.

Just a lurker, so glad it's gone well & take it easy.

Reading the third book now.

PA lovely to hear you're ok. Scary about the nasty reaction to the drug. So glad you're ok. Keep resting lovely x

Sorry it was a little worse then was hoped, but glad that they managed to get the tumour out whole. Its a shame you had the reaction to the drug. It must have been terrifying for you all. Good to hear you are home and taking things easy. Rest as much as you need, let others take the strain whilst you are recovering.

Positive - so relieved it is all over but sorry you have had such a rough time.

Take care of yourself and do not try to do too much. Just take things really slowly and you will heal much quicker.

I keep checking in to see how you are, and I hope DD is coping with all this.

Well done Positive! Its great that the operation is over. Give yourself plenty of rest and treats now and just relax. It will take at least a week to recover from the anaesthetic. Lie on the sofa and let everyone take care of you.

So pleased for you that all is well despite the unplanned drama. You must take it easy now and take care of yourself. Ellie xxx

So glad to hear that everything went well.

Keep your feet up and get everyone to look after you. You've been through a rotten time, so deserve some TLC!!

Hope all the family is coping with everything that's been going on.

Much love xxx

pa Aw honey what a time. So glad you are ok!
Definitely take it easy on yourself. Hope you feel bit better soon and have some proper chill out time. Xxx

Glad you're OK Pa despite the drama. Take it easy, won't you? x

Glad to see you've posted Positive and you're OK inspite of the drug reaction. Definitely take it easy, don't push yourself, your body has suffered a trauma and needs a chance to recover. Enjoy the chance to relax ..you really don't need to feel guilty! (waves to Optimisticmama)

I need to tell someone, but nobody is here. DH at work and DCs at school, so.....

I feel crap!!

I feel sick!!

I feel knackered!!

I am fed up of trying to be up-beat for visitors!! GO AWAY!!!! LEAVE ME ALONE TO WALLOW!!!

I want to sleep for the next month, at least!!

My scar hurts!

I have "heard" and "felt" every beat of my heart since the operation (reverberating around my ear area, IYSWIM) - It is driving me crazy! (I wasnt told this would happen and not sure if it should be like this.)

I have worn nothing but PJs for a week.

I need a shower, but havent got the energy to stand up long enough without falling down.

My hair feels soooooooo awful, I normally wash it every day, but have only done it once since Saturday.

please ignore my rantings, I just needed to "say" this to someone. I should now start to feel less sorry for myself.

But I do have to say I have the very best hubby, ever. He has been a diamond and DCs have been really good. DS is cooking tea for everyone again tonight, bless him!!

Oh gosh, do you know what, rant as much as you need to - it sounds like absolute hell and I know if I was in your situation, well I don't know but I suspect that I would have fallen to bits already.

Re the heartbeat thing - is there anyone you could call to check? I imagine (no medical knowledge) that the whole area is healing, and in shock. Massive bruising and so on inside there, so like any other injury it will throb. (I hurt my finger last week and it still throbs, bizarrely, where the cut is healing)

It's just bloody unlucky it's next to your ear.
Hair washing, Ugh it's awful isn't it not being able to.

I'm sorry, I don't really honestly know what to say that will help - but I am listening and I'm sure others are too.

Go easy on yourself, early days. xx

PA - yes everyone who's been through horrid medical stuff needs a rant at times. Hang on in there - it will get better. The GAs knocked me out each time - just try to go with the flow. After an op or chemo I used to lie down in bed and say to myslef 'I don't have to do anything at all except get better'. I found this oddly helpful - took pressure off myself in every way.